Test your basic knowledge |

Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






2. Combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies. Also known as counterpoint.






3. A group of 4 instruments - two violins - a viola - and cello.






4. Unmusical - without tone.






5. Lowest female singing voice.






6. Three note chords consisting of a root - third - and fifth.






7. Either of the two octave arrangements in modern music. The modes are either major or minor.






8. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played gracefully.






9. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






10. Music of a particular form consisting of four movements. Each of the movements differ in tempo - rhythm - and melody; but are held together by subject and style.






11. To shift to another key.






12. Harsh - discordant - and lack of harmony. Also a chord that sounds incomplete until it resolves itself on a harmonious chord.






13. Refers to any great composer - conductor - or teacher of music.






14. Music written for a lively French dance for two performers written in triple time.






15. A composition whose style is simple and idyllic; suggestive of rural scenes.






16. Rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart.






17. Two notes that differ in name only. The notes occupy the same position.For example: C sharp and D flat.






18. The raising and lowering a pitch of an instrument to produce the correct tone of a note.






19. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1800's and lasted about sixty years. There was a strong regard for order and balance.






20. A system of notation for stringed instruments. The notes are indicated by the finger positions.






21. Convenient method of numbering a composer's works where a number follows the word 'opus'.For example - Opus 28 - No. 4.






22. The raising and lowering a pitch of an instrument to produce the correct tone of a note.






23. The element of music pertaining to time - played as a grouping of notes into accented and unaccented beats.






24. Originally an improvised cadence by a soloist. Later it became a written out passage to display performance skills of an instrumentalist or performer.






25. The unit of musical rhythm.






26. Singing or chanting in unison without strict rhythm. Collected during the Reign of Pope Gregory VIII for psalms and other other parts of the church service.






27. The first section of a movement written in sonata form - introducing the melodies and themes.






28. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






29. An important characteristic of the Romantic period. It is a style where the strict tempo is temporarily abandoned for a more emotional tone.






30. Three notes played in the same amount of time as one or two beats.






31. The first violin in an orchestra.






32. Eight full tones above the key note where the scale begins and ends.






33. A composition written for eight instruments.






34. The principal note of a triad.






35. The flats and sharps at the beginning of each staff line indicating the key of music the piece is to be played.






36. A repeating phrase that is played at the end of each verse in the song.






37. The voice between soprano and alto. Also - in sheet music - a direction for the tempo to be played at medium speed.






38. The distance in pitch between two notes.






39. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






40. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played grandly.






41. A direction to play lively and fast.






42. Combination of two or more keys being played at the same time.






43. One of the two modes of the tonal system. The minor mode can be identified by the dark - melancholic mood.






44. A sequence of songs - perhaps on a single theme - or with texts by one poet - or having continuos narrative.






45. A solo concert with or without accompaniment.






46. A composition based on previous work. A common technique used in Medieval and Renaissance music.






47. The retuning of a stringed instrument in order to play notes below the ordinary range of the instrument or to produce an usual tone color.






48. A set of seven musicians who perform a composition written for seven parts.






49. Closing section of a movement.






50. A chord progression that seems to lead to resolving itself on the final chord; but does not.







Sorry!:) No result found.

Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?


Let me suggest you:

Browse all subjects

Browse all tests

Most popular tests



Major Subjects

Tests & Exams


AP
CLEP
DSST
GRE
SAT
GMAT

Browse all subjects

Browse all tests

Most popular tests